An epic story of wartime, family secrets and forbidden love, set against the stunning exotic backdrop of 1940's Kashmir. Within one exotic land lie the secrets of a lifetime... It is the eve of 1941 and World War II is engulfing the globe. Newlywed Nerys Watkins leaves rural Wales for the first time to accompany her husband on a missionary posting to India. Deep in the exquisite heart of Kashmir lies the lakeside city of Srinagar where the British live on carved wooden houseboats and dance, flirt and gossip as if there is no war. But the battles draw closer, and when the men are sent away to fight life in Srinagar becomes less frivolous. Nerys is caught up in a dangerous friendship, and by the time she is reunited with her husband, the innocent Welsh bride has become a different woman.
Years later, when Nerys's granddaughter Mair clears out her father's house, she finds an exquisite shawl. Wrapped in the folds of the shawl is a lock of child's curly hair. Mair is fascinated with her findings and decides to trace her grandparents' roots back to Kashmir.
I have a bit of a thing about India and I love anything colonial, so this book was a winner from the beginning. With stunning descriptions of landscape and lifestyle, real and likeable characters, and an excellent story I couldn't put it down.
Definitely sounds like my kind of book.
ReplyDeleteHello mama, well worth putting on a 'To read' list.
ReplyDelete